Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and finance minister T. Harish Rao on Monday labelled Union home minister Amit Shah’s Chevella statement of BJP coming to power in the state an “illusion.”
Speaking at an Athmeeya Sammelanam event at Kalluru in the Sathupalli Assembly constituency of Khammam, Harish Rao dismissed the BJP’s chances, saying that the strength of the audience for Amit Shah’s event was not even half the strength of the sammelanam. He said that even those who attended were ferried from other districts. He wondered if the BJP candidates could even retain their deposits in Khammam district.
Highlighting the BRS government's achievements in the agriculture sector, he said Telangana’s Yasangi (rabi) crop cultivation increased from 14 lakh acres in 2014 to 56 lakh acres in 2023. He said that the government had bought crops worth ₹26,600 crore last year from farmers, which was a significant increase from ₹3,600 crore in 2014.
“Because KCR increased the value of the farmer, the value of the land increased,” Harish Rao said. “Farmers should not be discouraged by untimely rains. We have a farmers’ government and a farmer leader as the Chief Minister. He will take care of your losses,” he said.
He accused Amit Shah of trying to create divisions along the lines of castes and religions. “Did he talk about the ₹1,350 crore that Telangana should receive? Did he mention ITIR, Bayyaram steel plant or a national project in his speech?” he asked.
Minister Ajay Kumar, MPs Nama Nageswara Rao, Bandi Parthasaradhi Reddy and V. Ravi Chandra, former minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Sathupalli MLA Sandra Venkata Veeriah and other local leaders were present at the meeting.
